Long-winged Conehead

Conocephalus discolor

About

The Long-winged Conehead is a bush-cricket of rough grassland and woodland rides, as well as damp habitats. It is largely vegetarian, feeding on grasses, but will also eat small invertebrates. Nymphs emerge from mid-May onwards, moulting into their adult forms at the end of July. The 'song' of the Long-winged Conehead (a soft, hissing 'buzz') is barely audible to human ears. Females lay their eggs in late summer in grass stems; here, they overwinter, ready to emerge next spring.

How to identify

One of the smaller bush-crickets, the Long-winged Conehead is easily identified by the combination of its green coloration, brown stripe down the back, pointed head and long, brown wings. The similar Short-winged Conehead, as the name suggests, usually has short wings, barely half the length of its body.

Where to find it

South and eastern England. Spreading northwards.

Habitats

When to find it

May

June

July

August

September

October

How can people help

The Long-winged Conehead first appeared in Britain in the 1940s and was confined to the south coast. However, during the last 20 years it has been spreading northwards as a result of climate change allowing it to exploit new habitats. The Wildlife Trusts work with researchers, scientists and other conservationists to monitor changes in our native wildlife to determine the effects of environmental change, such as the introduction of new species or climate change. You can help: volunteer for your local Trust and you'll be able to monitor populations and survey habitats, adding to a growing bank of data on the effects of climate change.